NEWS

Arthur Verocai played his first-ever NYC show with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (pics)

Presented by Jazz is Dead, Brazilian legend Arthur Verocai played a free show at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park on Friday, as part of his first-ever North American tour. It’s in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his self-titled debut, and Arthur was met with ecstatic applause from the beyond capacity crowd. (The many who couldn’t get in hung around, listening and dancing outside the perimeter.) He and a 30-piece orchestra played the album front-to-back, with guest appearances from ROGÊ and Samantha Schmütz, who sang and played guitar. When his set was over the crowd kept singing, making for a magical night.

Before Arthur’s set, Adrian Younge and A Tribe Called Quest‘s Ali Shaheed Muhammad — who together run Jazz is Dead — played an extended DJ set to get the crowd in the mood, full of hip hop classics and a sing-a-long to a few ATCQ songs, and brought out another Brazilian legend (and longtime NYC resident), Dom Salvador. The night was also Ali Shaheed’s birthday, and he was treated to a cake and a “happy birthday” sing-a-long.

Check out photos from the whole night by P Squared along with a few fan-shot videos below.

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